This treat can potentially be harmful to your pooch! Find out what that treat it is and what you can do to avoid hurting your pup! You won't believe that this treat can actually be dangerous! Find out what it is!
Los Angeles-based holistic veterinarian Dr. Patrick Mahaney is outlining some of the hidden dangers of feeding rawhides and offering some alternatives to appease your little chewer while keeping him safe.
Rawhide Manufacturing
Rawhides are made from the inner layer of cow or horse hides. By the time they make it to the store, they are clean, usually white or brown, hard chews.But what goes into making these chews? Things like hydrogen peroxide and bleach are commonly used, as well as artificial colors and preservatives like sodium benzonate, according to Habib.
“Your typical manufacturer is going to use a chemical preservative to make sure the rawhide doesn’t spoil,” Dr. Mahaney says.
Dangers of Rawhides
Apart from the chemicals used to preserve most rawhides, there are some other risks with feeding these hard chews to your pet: mainly choking and getting lodged in the throat.But even if you can remove the rawhide yourself, you should still take your dog to the vet.
Rawhides can also pose risks to the teeth.
“Hard rawhides with an aggressively chewing dog can damage teeth,” Dr. Mahaney adds. “Usually they soften up with saliva but not always.”
Teeth-Cleaning Myths
Most pet parents think rawhides are great for cleaning their dog’s teeth. While there is some validity to that, there are better options for keeping your dog’s chompers clean and their gums healthy.Alternative Options
There are a number of safe, healthy alternatives to rawhides:The Honest Kitchen Beams Chews: “These are pure Icelandic catfish skins with no preservatives,” Dr. Mahaney explains.
Vibrac C.E.T. Enzyme Rawhide Chews: “These have enzymes that break down tartar but they are made with beef rawhide,” Dr. Mahaney says.
Bully Sticks: “They tend to be softer and once they are moistened, they’re fine,” Dr. Mahaney says.
The Bottom Line
Redirecting your dog’s natural tendency to chew by offering a tasty treat can save your furniture or shoes from destruction, but you need to make sure you know how your chews are being processed.
It's shocking to learn how rawhides can be so dangerous for your pup! Don't worry, now that you know what to avoid, your pup can stay safe! Just remember to watch him anytime he's chewing on something to make sure he doesn't accidentally choke or swallow something he shouldn't!
For more information on the dangers of rawhides, visit Rover.
